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Sunday, November 27, 2016

Chapter 11 - Racing

Note: To me coaching is all about stewardship, using the knowledge and experience I have gained over 40 years as a runner, and 10 years as a coach, to help others pursue their running goals. So rather than publishing a book you have to pay for, I am publishing it here on my blog, free for all (runners and coaches alike) to read and enjoy, maybe learn something from it, or potentially have it prompt you to look at something from a slightly different viewpoint. If any of those happen, mission accomplished.

"Smile as you head to the start line, races are a celebration of the hard work we have done in training."

When determining the best race strategy to advise distance runners to utilize, I came up with the following criteria to help guide me, I wanted a strategy that:

- Offered the highest probability of producing the best performance

- Was physiologically sound

- Was psychology sound

- Could be practiced in training to help the runner master it

After studying all the different components involved, and looking at the best results from runners of all ages and ability levels over multiple decades, I have the come up with what I feel is the best race strategy and use and one that meets all of the criteria listed above.

Interestingly enough, this general strategy (slight negative split) has been what has been used in the vast majority of world records in distance races over the last 50 years, giving me good confidence in its soundness.

I am also defining the race strategy I recommend in such a way that it can be utilized by runners regardless of how they prefer to monitor their races, whether by pace, effort, or heart rate, so that it may be used by all runners.

Race Strategy

I recommend that the race be broken up into 3 segments, as follows:

Segment #1: First 10% of the race - Easing into it

In the first segment of the race the runner eases into their goal pace/effort/heart rate. The runner does this by starting conservatively, just slightly slower than goal pace/effort/heart rate and gradually ramping up into the goal ranges by 5-10% into the race.

Physiologically this allows the body to ease into its goal range more efficiently and with a lower energy burn rate and blood lactate level than a more abrupt start allows.

Psychologically this takes some pressure and stress off on the starting line and in early part of the race, as the runner knows they have time (by design) to ramp into their performance.

Segment #2: 10% to 80% of race distance - Strong, Smooth and Steady

The second segment of the race is by far the longest and encompasses the majority of the race. It lasts from the 10% mark of the race to the 80% mark of the race or 70% of the total race distance. Our strategy in this second segment is to run as smooth and even as possible in our goal range (either pace, heart rate or effort). We want to focus on a good strong sustainable rhythm and staying as relaxed as possible while running in our goal range.

Physiologically this allows the body to run as expend as little energy as possible while at goal range. Just letting the miles tick by as we focus on staying as smooth and relaxed as possible.

Psychologically it allows us to go on auto-pilot and just execute what we have trained to do without over thinking things or getting too caught up in racing just yet.

Segment #3: Last 20% of race distance - Racing home

At the 80% point in the race we do a quick assessment on how much gas we have left in the tank, and then race home the best we can based on that. At best we may be able to pick-up the pace some in this final segment as we race home, and at worst we should be able to maintain our goal pace if we have executed our first 80% as planned. Any up-side on our goal time comes in this last 20% of the race. We have raced the first 80% of the race with our heads, following a strategy we should be able to maintain the whole way, and now we race the last 20% of the race with our hearts to finish off the performance and maybe realize some upside. We use competition to help motivate us and embrace the challenge of pushing and expanding our limits. This last 20% is a huge investment both physically and mentally as we are pushing our limits and dealing with steadily growing fatigue, but that is why we executed the first 80% as we did, to conserve as much physical and mental energy as we could for this last segment.

Physiologically we have set ourselves up well, we have covered the first 80% at a manageable level so now we are free to race home and use up what energies we have left knowing we are close to home and most of the way to a great performance.

Psychologically we conserved our mental energies the first 80%, not worrying about competition, just executing a solid plan and staying smooth and relaxed and not over thinking. Now as we hit the final 20% we start pulling out the mental tricks and triggers to help us combat the fatigue. We let our competition motivate us, we try and catch or pass people, most people positive split races so by executing a slight negative split, we will be passing many more people in this segment than we get passed by. We think of how close we are to a completing a great performance and use it to excite and motivate us. We break the final miles of the race up in smaller segments and stay in the moment, executing 1 segment at a time.

This Race Strategy:

helps us run relaxed and efficient and feel good for as much of the race as possible while still maximizing our performance

helps us stay positive late in the race by structuring it so that we are passing people instead of getting passed late in the race, we race the second half of the race as the hunters not the hunted.

conserves our mental and physical energies for when we will need it most - the final stages of the race

is practicable in most of our training

Establishing Our Goal Ranges

An important part of this race strategy is having a good handle on what your reasonable goal range(s) should be, as we will use it as the basis for the first 80% of the race. This goal range can be a certain pace per mile or kilometer, or it can be a target heart rate range, or a certain feel/effort we want to give.

Many people find they are most comfortable with using one of these methods as their primary gauge with maybe another one (or two) as a secondary gauge. For example, you may decide to run based on feel with pace as a back-up guide that is a little more concrete.

You have 2 big tools to use in deciding our goal range. The results of your training leading up to the race, and past experience in races. The more you have trained and raced the easier this becomes to figure out. You will have experienced workouts and races and have a good idea what that means for you in this race. A coach can be a HUGE help on this front, as not only do they know your training and racing background very well, but they have examples and knowledge of dozens (and even hundreds) other runners having done similar workouts and races.

A big key here is to not overextend your goal ranges. Stick with what is reasonable and that you have a very high likelihood of being able to sustain. Leave stretch goals and up-side potential to that last 20% of the race and pace the first 80% of the race with solid, realistic expectation. A great tool help in setting this up is doing a simulation run or race in your training to practice the pacing you plan to use the first 80% of the race. As a key stress workout in your cycle, simply run 50-65% of the goal race distance exactly as you plan to run the first 80% of the race. It can give you great feedback, help you tweak your plan, and boost your confidence on race day.

Goal Range Adjustments

Make sure that after establishing your goals ranges you note any adjustments that need to be made due to course or weather conditions. This includes things like any big hills on the course or warmer or colder weather conditions than you are use to in your training. Again, data from your training, past races and your coach can help you hone these adjustments.

Example Strategy

Sub 3 Hour Marathon (goal range by pace)

Segment 1: ease into the race the first 2 miles: 7:00-7:10 for first mile and 6:50-7:00 for second mile

Segment 2: smooth and steady 6:45-6:50 per mile from 2 to 21 miles, except 6:55-7:00 pace on the hilly section from 10-13 miles

Segment 3: race it home last 5.2 miles at 6:50 or better pace

Result: 2:59 or better

Approx Race Breakout By Segment

Race Distance

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

5k

first quarter mile

.25 to 2.5 miles

last .6 miles

8k

first half mile

.5 to 4 miles

last mile

10k

first half mile

.5 to 5 miles

last 1.2 miles

15k

first mile

1 to 7.5 miles

last 1.8 miles

10 mile

first mile

1 to 8 miles

last 2 miles

20k

first mile

1 to 10 miles

last 2.4 miles

Half Marathon

first mile

1 to 10 miles

last 3.1 miles

25k

first 1.5 miles

1.5 to 12 miles

last 3.5 miles

30k

first 1.5 miles

2 to 15 miles

last 3.6 miles

Marathon

first 2 miles

2 to 21 miles

last 5.2 miles

Practice In Training

During your stress workouts in training, practice the general outline we plan to use in racing. That is: start a bit conservative and ease into it, run strong, smooth and steady during the majority of the workout, and then finish a touch faster in the final section (i.e. slight negative split). In particular practice this approach in your tempo runs and long runs as these are continuous runs most similar to our races. After awhile of doing this, it will become ingrained and just part of how you normally run, making it second nature to you on race day.

Fueling

The is is an area of race strategy that has gotten a lot more complicated for runners in recent years as there is more options now than ever before. There are tons of waters, sports drink, electrolyte drinks, energy replacement drinks, gels, gu's, sports beans, chews and lots of "normal" foods available to runners in training and races and all sorts of methods of carrying them with you if desired. So lets first cut through some of the haze and confusion and establish a base strategy.

Lets start by breaking this up into race durations:

1) races under 1 hour

2) races between 1 and 2 hours

3) races over 2 hours

Next lets break-up the fueling needs into 2 categories

1) fluids/electrolytes

2) energy/calories

Fluids/Electrolytes

Serving Size: 3-6 oz (2-3 good swallows) of water or drink with electrolytes

Play with the options listed above in training to figure out what mix and combination works best for you. Do you prefer to get your calories from drinks or gels, or chews. Does your stomach handle sports drinks OK, and if not which ones does it like or not like. Your training runs, especially long runs, are you chance to figure this out and train your stomach for race day.

Example

Common Marathon Strategy: alternating between a servings of water and sports drink once every 15-20 minutes plus take most of a gel pack every hour (with water).

AttitudeOur attitude is key to our success in racing, and the race strategy outlined in this chapter is designed to help us best use our mental energies and produce a positive attitude. The next chapter (Chapter 12) will focus in more depth on our attitude and mental approach to training and racing.